(Yicai Global) Oct. 22 -- Sanofi has launched the China Health Road Project as part of the French pharmaceutical giant's efforts to gain a foothold in China's primary healthcare industry covering community and county-level hospitals in major cities and provinces.

Sanofi has teamed up with its partners to bring drugs, vaccines and leading disease management models to China's primary healthcare sector, the Paris-based firm said in a statement. The company will also introduce leading technologies based on big data and artificial intelligence, as well as innovative platforms to provide advanced medical resources and solutions in the country.

Sanofi China Health Road Project will reach seven of China's Belt and Road cities in the fourth quarter this year, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an. Sanofi will hold more than 1,700 training sessions and other events involving nearly 2,000 community and county-level hospitals.

The company will expand the project to 14 cities in 12 provinces next year and will cover 94 percent of the area along the Belt and Road in China by 2020.

"China has 300 million patients with chronic diseases, which are responsible for more than 85 percent of deaths," Jean-Christophe Pointeau, country chair of Sanofi China, said. "I believe, by working with partners, the projects will greatly help to improve primary healthcare and eventually bring benefits to the health of the Chinese people."

Editors: William Clegg